Two U.S. Navy boats with 10 sailors on board taken into Iranian custody

[Ranger Psych]

What type/ model of Iranian boats rolled up our guys?

It looked like their little swiftboats with stalins organs ducktape and ratchet strapped to the top like they roll. Could be wrong.

The simple fact is that while the Iranians sure as fuck aren't our friends, we're also not directly enemies as in a declared war (at least on our side, although DIE USA DIE is a pretty common chant there) so I am hard pressed to see where being on a standard patrol like how they roll, then having engine trouble... I mean, fuck, it had to be some serious shit because generally speaking those boats aren't single engine deals either. Why they didn't try to tow, or at least state that they had tried? No clue.

@parallel WHERE ARE YOUUUUUUUUU....

 

[AWP]

I thought @SkrewzLoose said they were Houdongs.

In September 1994, 5 variants of the Huangfeng design, named Houdong, were delivered to Iran. Another 5 more were delivered in May 1995. In March 1996, Iran took delivery of the last 5 Houdong FACs. The Houdong were equipped with the long-range C-802 anti-ship cruise missile (120 km range with 700 kg warhead). This brought the Iranian fleet to ten Houdong FACs. Other reports claimed that China sold Iran about 40 Hudong fast attack missile boats and more than 80 C-802 anti-ship cruise missiles during the mid-1990s.

Huangfeng (TYPE 021) - People's Liberation Army Navy

Which means they had 25 and or 30mm cannon on board. The whole notion of shooting at the Iranians is a non-starter.

 

[SkrewzLoose]

Indeed, they were huodongs that picked up our guys.

 

[Brill]

What type/ model of Iranian boats rolled up our guys?

Couple of Skeeters with 200hp 4-strokes...word is they got lost en route to the FLW Bassmaster Classic in Dubai but when they saw the Navy boats, they thought they could use explosives to earn the biggest bass purse.

 

[Brill]

No shocker that a Canadian would be the first to get it. Hat tip to @RackMaster

 

[RackMaster]

No shocker that a Canadian would be the first to get it. Hat tip to @RackMaster

We loves us some Bassmasters.

 

[Brill]

I'm happy to see the Americans coming home but this highlights my point about "getting our turkey back". Iran doesn't even have the $100B yet!

In negotiating to free Americans in Iran, U.S. blinked on new sanctions

 

[Salt USMC]

Yeah, about that...

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/01/1...ear-deal.html?referer=https://www.google.com/

 

[Brill]

An opinion piece that makes one think: are we getting the real story?

Opinion: Were US sailors 'spoofed' into Iranian waters?

 

[AWP]

An opinion piece that makes one think: are we getting the real story?

Opinion: Were US sailors 'spoofed' into Iranian waters?

I had doubts about the article until I saw they confiscated the GPS units. "Drag" some boats into their waters, treat them well and return them in less than a day, and then ask for their 100 billion a few days later?

Not fishy at all.

ETA, and the Iranians release 5 "detainees" yesterday? Lots of goodwill by a country in the doghouse...

 

[Marauder06]

What the world thinks of the US Navy right now, in one cartoon

"The incident with the two Navy boats was not worth going to war with Iran over. But if we continue to allow the perception that we are weak, that we lack will and staying power, and that Iran can do whatever it wants in the region, then we are setting ourselves up for big trouble in the future."

 

[TLDR20]

It is easy to get uppity with a riverine boat, a little different with a carrier battle group.

 

[Brill]

I had doubts about the article until I saw they confiscated the GPS units. "Drag" some boats into their waters, treat them well and return them in less than a day, and then ask for their 100 billion a few days later?

Not fishy at all.

ETA, and the Iranians release 5 "detainees" yesterday? Lots of goodwill by a country in the doghouse...

I have zero insight into what did or did not occur IVO Farsi island. I do consider highly probable that IRGC forces ID'd and tracked the riverine boats with the assumption that capturing them would not lead to military conflict but allow them leverage over the strong probability imposing sanctions after recent missile tests. I believe the boats were captured in international waters something akin to AGER-2 in '68.

Sailors detained, sanctions delayed, JCPOA enacted, funds released, and BAM!!!! USG drops sanctions against individuals and companies in Iran for violating UN rules.

 

[Brill]

Interesting to point out that Iranian military fires off a ballistic missile yet individuals and corporations associated with weapons procurement/development, NOT the Iranian government, are held responsible by the USG!

That would be like MSF holding Lockheed Martin accountable for the strike in Kunduz, AF.:-/

 

[SpitfireV]

What? The USG was enforcing UN sanctions against Iran.

 

[SkrewzLoose]

It is easy to get uppity with a riverine boat, a little different with a carrier battle group.

Exactly! Wish I could agree more.

 

[Gunz]

It is easy to get uppity with a riverine boat, a little different with a carrier battle group.

And yet...

US Navy releases video of Iran firing rockets near a US aircraft carrier

 

[Marauder06]

They know we're desperate for this deal and they can do pretty much anything they want.

 

[SkrewzLoose]

Rockets being launched at anyone going through the SOH is not news at all. That shit happens all the time. The pucker factor is always high during that transit.

ETA: Launching rockets near or IVO the HST, not at her.

 

[Brill]

Now press is reporting three Americans kidnapped in Baghdad but taken to Sadr City, a very well known Shia "neighborhood".